Valve



Nov. 17, 1931. c. WILLIAMSON VALVE Filed Nov. 16. i927 Patented Nov. 17,resiv UNITED STATES CLARENCE WILLIAMSON, PORT ANGELES, VSIlSHILl'G'lONvALvn Application filed November 1B, 1.927'.4 Serial No. 233,600.V

My invention relates to valves for controlling the flow of heavyliquefied stock, such as paper pulp stock, and is particularly adaptedfor use in the bottom of tanks or vats containing such stock, preferablyto be built into the bottom of suck tanks. W'hile the principles of myinvention are equally applicable to hand-operated or power-operatedvalves, the preferred embodiment is more particularly directed to largepower-operated valves. My invention aims to provide an improved valve ofthis character, the objects and advantages of which will appear in thefollowing speciiication, taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, illustrating a preferred form.

In the drawings accompanying this specication, Fig. l is a verticalsection on line 1--1, Fig. 2, but showing certain features in elevation,of a power operated valve and operating means embodying my invention inplace in a tank; and

Fig. 2 is a plan view taken on the line 2 2, Fienl, looking downward.

i eferring to the drawings, the valve shown therein comprises a ringseat l appropriately shaped to be used as an integral part vof a stocktank 2, the form herein illustrated being a lunitary element,advantageously an iron or steel casting, provided with an enlarged topflange 3 and a small bottom flange 4;, and here shown as embedded in'concrete;. although it will be understood that any snitableseat may .beemployed. The upper edge ,of fthe seat ilared as at 5 to fit a closingmember, `preferably a ball .6, of such speciiic gravity as to sink inthe contents of the tank, non-rigidly connected, as by a ball-andfsocketjoint 7 to a rod 8 whereby said ball is lowered or raised. In thepreferred form of my invention, said rod is operated by a piston l),working in a vertical cylinder 10, adapted for operation .bycompressedair, water, steam, or other suitable iiuid pressure power device. It iswithinv the contemplation of my invention that the rod 8 may be operatedeither by a piston and cylinder,v other suitable mechanical means, oreven `directly by hand. In the .preferred form .the rod 8 passes througha 'stuijngboi'c ll ofthe usual type in the lower ets in which the stockcan collect to obstruct the valve seat or retard the movement of theclosing member. Herein four vertical rods or bars l2, supported vattheir lower ends by the ring seat l, are shown as constituting such asupport.

`Where power operation is resorted to, the

controls, of a character appropriate to the Vnature of the power used,may be located at any desired point. In the present embodiment, afour-way valve 'connected to the cylinder 10 by means of the pipes 14,l5, is shown as controlling the operation of the valve.

In the operation of this device, pressure being turn-ed on the' upperconnection 14 of the cylinder 10 forces 'the rod S downward, seatingA:the ball 6 on the flared edge 5 of the 'seat l, The ball and socketconnection 7 between the ball 6 and the rod 8, permits the 'ball to seat4properly irrespectiveof bending of the rod 8, yo r the collection ofpulp in the downward path of the ball 6, or side pressure on the balldue to an unequal liow of stock, which would otherwise prevent trueseating cf the ball ,and allow leakage.

The use of a closing member free from flat surfaces and with its axis ofsymmetry central-ly disposed with respect to the valve seat andperpendicular to th-e .plane thereof, is advantageous in that the flowof 'stock about such a closing member, as it approaches `its seat, tendsto center it with respect to said seat', since the fluid pressure in thedirection the vertical axis is equal on all sides. The non-rigidconnection 7 between the closing member 6 and its actuating rod 8permits the member to respond to the force of gravitation and theseVcentering intiuences and automatically assume a proper seating position.

A yclosing member ofthe above characteristics affords no lodging placefor accumulations of stock on or about itself, such as happens with flattypes of valves.

Although the connection between the ball G and the piston rod 8 isherein shown as a ball-'and-socket joint 7, any other suitableconnection may be employed, ot such character that the downward thruston the rod will be transmitted to the closing member without thenecessity ot exact alignment between said rod and said closing member.It is also to be understood that while I have selected 'a globularclosing' member as the preferred type I do not limit myself thereto, butmay employ a closing means ot' any form which is operable in accordancewith the principles 0f this invention. For example7 an ovoid or apear-shaped member mightbe advantageously employed under certaincircumstances.

It will be apparent from the foregoing` that I have invented a valveparticularly designed for control of horizontal. openings in situationswhere a large and heavy size is necessary, where the character ot theliowinp; material is such that a limited freedom ot mo tion must beallowed the closing member, and where submerged guidevays forslidingelements are undesirable because ot clogging.

It will be understood that I do not limit myself' to the exact form ot'invention herein shown and described but I desire to cover allembodiments of the principles thereot` within the scope of the appendedclaims.

That I claim is:

l. A valve structure particularly adapted to handle thick stock in largevats, comprising, in combination, a seat surroundingv an opening, aflange extending outward trom said seat, an outlet tube below said seat,a. second outward flange on the bottom of said tube, said lirst-namedflange being` adapted to torm part ot the bottom surface of a vat, saidsecond-named flange beingadapted to be embedded in the licor of a vat, aplurality of widely-separated upright rods rising' from said first-namedflange and forming' a cage, a closure element adapted to be moved withinsaid cage and to be loosely le'uided thereby7 and operating means forsaid valve supported by said rods.

2. A valve structure particularly adapted to handle thick stocl in largevats, comprising, in combination, a seat element consist-ine' ol a shorttube with upper and lower out side flanges and a seat face upon itsupper end, said Hanges being;- adapted to hold said seat elementembedded in the floor structure of a vat, a valve cage conmrisingr aplurality o i widely separated upright bars secured to said upperflange, a ball within said cage, said ball beine' ot less diameter th ausaid cage but of greater diameter than the distance between any adjacentbars thereohpower operating' means for said valve supported bv saidcage, an actuating rod connecting said means to said ball, and a looseconnection between said rod and said ball.

A power operable valve .tor heavy paper stock. comprising, incombination, bars l2 constituting a guiding),` cage, a ball (3 mountedwithin said cage and adapted to be guided thereby, a power operatingelement Lior said ball above said cage, an outlet tube ot less diameterthan said ball at the bottom ot said cage and adapted to be closedthereby, an actuating` rod 8 connectingsaid power operating element andsaid ball, and a movable oint T between said ball and said rod adaptedto transmit thrust either straifht or misaligned to said ball, thecombination of' said lioint and said cage being adapted to constrainsaid ball to close said tube even when said ball is subjected tounbalanced side iorces.

el. An outlet valve 'for controllingthe outi'low from a tanl: ot paperpulp stoel; comprisingl a beveled valve seat .setinto the bottom ot saidtank. valve operating` means comprising a thrust rod spaced therefromand. approximately aligned therewith by means provi ding forsubstantiallyunobstructed flow ot paper'pulp stock` a universallyswivelefl thrust and pull transmitting connection carried by said thrustrod, and a spherical closingr member attached to said connection to betort-ed onto s seat by advance ot said thrust rod` said swiveled thrusttransmittine' connection providingN for deflection ot said closingmember by pulp stock accumulated ou and clogging' said seat to enablesaid closing' member to be forced into such position as to mosteftectively obstruct said clogged seat.

A valve for controllingthe liow ot paper pulp stock comprising' abeveled valve seat. valve operating` means comprising a thrust rodspaced therefrom and approximately aligned therewith by means providingfor substantially unobstructed flow of paper pulp stock, a universallyswiveled thrust and pull transmit-ting` connection carried by saidthrust rod, and a globular closing; member attached to said connectionto be forced onto said seat by advance of said thrust rod, said swiveledthrust transmitting connection providing` tor deflection of said closingmember by pulp stock accumulated on and clogging; said. seat to enablesaid closing member to be forced into such position asto mostoliectivelv obstruct said clogged seat.

ti. valve .for controllingr the flow of paper pulp stoel: comprising' abeveled valve seat. valve operating' means comprisingr a thrust rodspaced therefrom and approximately aliggned therewith by meansproviding' for substantially unobstructed liow of paper pulp stock. athrust and pull transmitting ball and socketconnection carried by saidthrust rod, and a globular closing` member attached to said connectionto be forced onto said seat by advance of said thrust rod, said thrustLealaevn transmitting connection providing for delicotion of saidclosing member by pulp stock accumulated on and clogging said seat toenable said closing member to be forced into such position as to mosteffectively obstruct said clogged seat.

7. A power operated valve for controlling the flow of paper pulp stockComprising a beveled valve seat, fluid pressure valve operating meanscomprising a piston rod spaced therefrom and approximately alignedtherewith by means providing for substantially unobstructed flow ofpaper pulp stock, a universally svviveled thrust and pull transmittingconnection carried by said piston rod,

and a globular closing member attached to said connection to be :forcedonto said seat by operation of said fluid pressure means to advance saidpiston rod, said svviveled thrust transmitting connection providing fordeflection of said closing member by pulp stock accumulated on andclogging said seat to enable said closing member to be forced into suchposition as to most effectively obstruct said clogged seat.

8. An outlet valvefor fluid containing suspended matter comprising incombination, a beveled valve seat defining the inner end of an outletopening, a globular valve body disposed at the inflow side of said seat,a valve actuating rod supported thereabove for axial movementsubstantially axially of said seat, and a thrust and pull transmittingball and socket joint connecting said valve body to said rod to enablethe deflection of said valve body by matter deposited on said seat intosuch position as Will best obstruct said matter clogged seat.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

CLARENCE WILLIAMSON.

